This study examined the life experiences of North Korean youth amid the Kim Jong-un era, with a specific focus on their formative experiences, behavioral orientations, as well as the nuanced interpretations they assign to these encounters from their perspectives. The goal is to analyze the unique traits of North Korean youth that set them apart from preceding generations. The study analyzes the trends and features of North Korean youth policies by dissecting sources such as Rodong Sinmun, literary works, and legislative frameworks. Moreover, it examines the aspirational archetype of model youth and tracks the shifting attitudes and mindsets portrayed in Rodong Sinmun and North Korean novels since Kim Jong-un assumed power. Additional analysis on their life stories was conducted through in-depth interviews with 17 young adults in their 20s to 30s, alongside insights gleaned from three adult respondents representing the older generation who defected from North Korea after 2018. Their life experiences were examined across four major areas and themes: parental expectations and educational upbringing, gender dynamics and sexual identity, educational experiences and career trajectories, and workplace dynamics and labor practices. Through this comprehensive exploration, key differentiating characteristics of the youth generation compared to the older generation were identified.

1. Introduction
2. Youth Desired by the State: Policies and Ideal Image of Youth
3. North Korean Youth’s Experiences Regarding Family, School, and World of Work 4. Distinguishing Characteristics of North Korean Youth
1) Individuals’ and Families’ Life Planning Independent from State Intervention 2) Political and Ideological Tension between the State and Individuals
3) Disparities in Mobility Represented by Unequal Opportunities
4) Career Advancement through Both Legal and Illegal Practices
5. Conclusion